Tottenham and Arsenal may yet face heartache in their pursuit of top La Liga strikers, but if both were successful, who would be getting the better player?

Arsenal have been linked with a high profile move for Gonzalo Higuain ever since May, but it has slowly appeared that the striker is edging further away from them, and towards Napoli instead.

Until that deal is done, the Gunners hold out hope, but it appears for now their efforts are based towards Luis Suarez instead.

Tottenham meanwhile have been targeting Valencia striker Roberto Soldado, a deal which could cost £26 million, and talks are ongoing between the two clubs.

Both Higuain and Soldado are superb players, two of the most consistent strikers in La Liga, having proven their ability over a number of seasons. Higuain's younger age, 25, makes the Argentine a longer term investment than 28-year-old Soldado, but the Spanish striker is one of those players who appears to be getting even better as he matures.

We decided to take a look at the player's seasons, and record over the past five years to see if it could give us any clue as to who would be the better forward to sign...

There really is little to choose between the two strikers, who have proved themselves on a consistent basis over the past five seasons. Higuain's strike rate stands up as better, because he outscored Soldado despite beginning that five year period in his early rather than mid-twenties, and also taking in several months out with a serious knee injury.

But if you are looking at a player to sign right now, you can't dismiss Soldado after the season he has just had, playing more regularly and outscoring Higuain, with a better overall goals per minute ratio, including four goals to one in the elite level of Champions League competition.

Whether we will see any of these players in the Premier League next season, is another matter entirely...

Dan Coombs

Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.
As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.
He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.